LCAQuick

You will see two versions of LCAQuick - one called "LCAQucikV3.4" and the other with the suffix "Data Entry".

The "LCAQuickV3.4" is the full working version of LCAQuick, which calculates environmental impacts based on the data you enter. Due to the size of the file, and the numbers of calculations that are performed, it can be slower.

If you wish, you can use the "LCAQuickV3.4 Data Entry" version initially to sort and enter your data. This version is a slimmed down copy that contains the functionality to enable you to enter data in the correct format but does not contain the functionality to calculate environmental impacts. Once you have your data in the correct format in this version, you can then copy and paste all the data into the "LCAQuickV3.4" version, which will calculate the environmental impacts. This process can be quicker and easier.

Note: that the "LCAQuickV3.4" version of LCAQuick is a 57 MB file, so it is best to use LCAQuick on a reasonably powerful computer. Also, please ensure that you are using Microsoft Excel from 2016 or later.

LCAQuick is primarily aimed at architects, designers, structural engineers and their clients, who want to evaluate the climate change (and other environmental impacts) associated with their building design. It can be used by anyone with an interest to understand the environmental impacts of buildings across the life cycle.

LCAQuick is a free tool aimed at informing early (concept and preliminary) design decisions.

The first version of LCAQuick was released in November 2016. This new version, released September 2019 (version 3.3), with an update to this (version3.4) released in March 2020. A list of the main features of each is summarised below:

Feature

First version (version 1.0)

Version 3.3

Version 3.4

Platform

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel

As for version 3.3

Tool architecture

12 separate files. A floe chart was required to find the correct version

One tool only

As for version 3.3

Application

All building typologies

All building typologies

As for version 3.3

Reference building library

30 commercial office buildings

(10 x 3 climate zones)

- Commercial offices: 10 buildings in 3 climate zones

- Stand-alone houses: 8 buildings in 3 cliate zones

As for version 3.3

Materials environmental impacts

Focussed in structure and enclosure of commercial office buildings

Expanded to include more materials used in residential construction

As for version 3.3

Operational energy:

Grid electricity

Modelled as 3 year weighted average environmental impacts between 2012 - 2014 and extrapolated forward for the service life of the building.

Based on MBIE's Mixed Renewables scenario from Electricity demand and generation scenarios (2016)

As for version 3.3

Constructions comparison tool

Not available

Includes the ability to compare alternative constructions on an embodied basis only.

As for version 3.3

Window and door tool

Not available

Windows and doors tool added, so you can obtain material quantities based on type of window/door, frame material, etc.

Includes a "Green Star Outputs" worksheet that puts LCA results into a format that can be pasted directly into NZGBC's LCA calculator tool (which calculates potential points).Separate editable pdf template report available to support a Green Star submission (credit 19A).

As for version 3.3

Carbon budget

Not included

Not included

As for version 3.3

Inclusion of functionality to save and load building input data

Not included

Not included

As for version 3.3

YouTube training videos are available by going to YouTube www.youtube.com/user/BRANZmedia/playlists and selecting the "Building LCA" playlist. These were developed for the first version of LCAQuick, but much of the functionality remains the same.Training and support

We have an LCAQuick LinkedIn forum where we post answers to frequently asked questions.

BRANZ provides free training and support to architects, designers, structural engineers and their clients who want to learn more about how to apply carbon footprinting and LCA to buildings, and/or who want to learn how to use LCAQuick.

We have sought to make LCAQuick as quick and easy to use as possible. This version incorporates feedback received from users, so please keep this coming (by emailing LCAQuick.help@branz.co.nz).

LCAQuick has been designed so that it can be used with any BIM tool. It requires the following inputs:

Headline information about the project, such as building or project name, project number and gross floor area.

Material quantities, either as a material take-off from a BIM tool or developed by a quantity surveyor. The SR350 study report provides guidance on the required minimum level of development (LoD) required for BIM objects.